Key challenges
The health and community industry faces structural and societal challenges. The pressures are deep, are enduring, and affect every one of us.
Australia’s ageing population is becoming increasingly disproportionate to the working age population. In 2013, the population aged over 65 was 14% – by 2053, it is projected that this will exceed 21%, placing exponential demands on our health services.
The increasing acute and chronic disease burden is expanding the complexity for care and support needs throughout the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary health and community sectors.
Biomedical, pharmaceutical and technological advances are offering better treatment options and workflow efficiencies however, leveraging these advances requires higher capital expenditure, putting pressure on budgets.
Vast gaps in health outcomes are drawn across socio-economic groups and regions. Access to care frequently depends on where patients are lucky enough to live, as opposed to their health needs.
Workforce fatigue is commonplace. Years managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, governance and funding reforms, increased oversight and a litigious landscape plus increasing mergers and acquisitions (especially in community and aged care) are stressors that are placing an enormous burden on workers. Additionally, challenges attracting and retaining workers is resulting in increased competition between healthcare providers.
